Three days later, Nathaniel left Blackwood Hall. He traveled without an escort, dressed plainly enough to avoid attracting attention. His destination was a village called Belford. According to Whitmore, a young woman named Evelyn Bennett lived there. She had no title, no fortune, no influential relatives, and no interest in aristocratic society. Nathaniel was beginning to suspect that last quality might be the most important.
He arrived in Belford shortly after noon. Farmers unloaded produce. Children ran between market stalls. A carriage rattled past.
Then a woman's voice cut through the noise: "That is not what you charged me yesterday."
Nathaniel stopped. A young woman stood outside the village inn with a basket balanced against one hip. Her brown hair was pinned loosely at the back of her head, though several curls had escaped around her face. Her dress was modest and practical. Her expression was anything but modest.
The innkeeper stood before her. "I told you, Miss Bennett, the price has changed."
"The price changed overnight? It happens. Did the potatoes become aristocrats?"
The innkeeper's mouth twitched. "Don't laugh."
"I am not laughing."
"You are."
"I am smiling."
"Then stop."
Nathaniel looked away so nobody would see the amusement on his face.
The innkeeper sighed. "Miss Bennett, it is only two extra pennies."
"Two pennies I don't owe."
"You ordered bread?"
"I did."
"And cheese?"
"Yes."
"And stew?"
"Yes."
"So what is the problem?"
"You charged me for wine."
The innkeeper paused. "You drank wine."
"I did not."
"You were at the table."
"So was the cat."
The innkeeper stared. "The cat didn't drink the wine."
Evelyn pointed toward the doorway. "You don't know that."
Nathaniel glanced inside. A fat orange cat sat on the windowsill. It looked completely guilty.
The innkeeper rubbed his forehead. "Fine. I made a mistake."
"Thank you."
He handed her two pennies. Evelyn took them, then noticed Nathaniel watching. She raised an eyebrow.
"Can I help you?"
"No."
"Then you're staring."
"I was listening to your argument."
"Yes. Why?"
Nathaniel paused. "Because it was entertaining."
She narrowed her eyes. "You find other people's financial problems entertaining?"
"No."
"You were smiling."
"I was smiling at the cat."
She looked at the cat. The cat looked at Nathaniel, then at Evelyn. She sighed.
"Of course."
She turned to leave. Nathaniel should have let her go. Instead, he said, "You were right."
She stopped. "About what?"
"The wine. I understand."
Nathaniel almost smiled. She turned toward him fully.
"You're not from Belford."
"No. London."